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Idol Groups Take Over Head in the Clouds 2026 With KATSEYE and XG

Two global idol groups lead a festival known for spotlighting Asian artists, backed by a lineup that spans hip-hop, R&B, and pop

By Elijah Pareño March 24, 2026

KATSEYE Head in the Clouds Festival — Since it began in 2017, Head in the Clouds has become a celebration of Asian musicians and culture. Photo from KATSEYE/Facebook

It’s going to be an idol group takeover at one of the biggest Asian music-led festivals in the world right now as idol groups KATSEYE and XG will headline this year’s Head in the Clouds festival in Los Angeles. The 88rising-curated lineup includes Indonesian rapper Rich Brian, South Korean rapper Dabin.kr, R&B singer-songwriter Umi, and K-Pop boy group Lngshot. The roster also features KiiiKiii, No Na, DJ and producer Gia Fu, Tiffany Day, and Warren Hue. The 2026 edition will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on August 8. This marks Katseye’s first Head in the Clouds performance.

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Head in the Clouds makes a return to Los Angeles after previously launching editions in New York, Jakarta, Manila, and China. Since it began in 2017, Head in the Clouds has become a celebration of Asian musicians and culture, welcoming some of the world’s biggest artists each year.

Head in the Clouds was hosted in Manila back in 2022 with Joji, NIKI, and Jackson Wang headlining the festival.

The news of Katseye headlining this year’s fest follows about a month after it was announced that Manon Bannerman, one of the six members of the superstar group, was taking a break. All the while at the XG camp, their chief producer, Junho Sakai, who works under the name Simon Jakops (or simply JAKOPS), was arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug possession on February 23.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is Head in the Clouds 2026 taking place?

Head in the Clouds 2026 takes place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Hosted by 88rising and Goldenvoice, the one-day festival celebrates Asian music and culture.

Who are the headliners for Head in the Clouds 2026?

Global girl groups KATSEYE and XG are headlining Head in the Clouds 2026. This event marks KATSEYE’s debut performance at the flagship 88rising festival.

Who else is on the Head in the Clouds 2026 lineup?

Curated by 88rising, the lineup features Rich Brian, Dabin.kr, UMI, Lngshot, KiiiKiii, No Na, Gia Fu, Tiffany Day, and Warren Hue. Performance styles range from hip-hop and R&B to electronic and pop.

Has Head in the Clouds ever been hosted outside of Los Angeles?

Yes, Head in the Clouds has held editions in New York, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, and China. The Manila festival took place in December 2022, featuring headliners Joji, NIKI, and Jackson Wang.

Where can fans purchase tickets for Head in the Clouds 2026?

Tickets and festival pass packages for Head in the Clouds LA are available through the official festival website (la.hitcfestival.com) and AXS. Passes include General Admission, VIP, and 1999 Club options.

Elijah Pareño

Music Writer

Elijah Pareño is the Music Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines. He writes daily music news, features, reviews, and radar stories of the website.

In addition to music writing, Pareño has written about the behind-the-scenes writers and producers from the P-pop scene, interviewed hip-hop artists like Shanti Dope and Zae, and featured up-and-coming artists for the Music Forecast 2026. Aside from music, Pareño has written about the state of affairs that affects pop culture. He wrote a movie review for 'Mortal Kombat II' and reported and interviewed photojournalists at the September 21, 2025 protests in Luneta and Mendiola.

Prior to working in Rolling Stone Philippines, Pareño was a freelance writer for 3 years and independent live music promoter

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